Barbados threadsnake : World’s smallest known snake Rediscovered
World’s smallest known snake Barbados threadsnake was rediscovered after vanishing for decades
- It is a tiny snake belonging to the family Leptotyphlopidae.
- The snake is blind, burrows in the ground, eats termites and ants and lays one single, slender egg.
- It reaches a maximum adult length of only 10.4 cm (4.1 inches) and an average weight of 0.6 g (0.02 ounce), it is thought to be the world’s smallest known snake.
- They are solitary fossorial creatures adapted to burrowing.
- They are nocturnal and during the day usually hide under rocks.
- Due to their diet preferences, they are often found near ant and termite nests.
- The pheromones these snakes produce protect them from attack by termites.
- Its habitat is most likely limited to the forests of eastern Barbados. They inhabit tropical dry forests.
- Barbados threadsnakes are found on the Caribbean island of Barbados
- Barbados threadsnakes are carnivores and their diets consist mostly of termite or ant larvae.
- They are oviparous meaning they lay eggs to reproduce.
- Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Threats: Habitat loss is the main threat to the Barbados threadsnake.
